Swordsman Archive
Thread: Ok, I think I'm done (long)
I've owned this game for near 6 months now and the feelings that I had originally about it have DRASTICALLY changed. At first, I bought a copy of the game for myself, my wife and 2 friends of ours so that we could all get together and play a bit. Since then ALL of them (except for me) have quit... unable to take it anymore.
There are SO many problems with this game it's unbelievable that they go unnoticed by the "Developers". The most basic underlying problem is that everyone is able to solo. In itself, that's not that big of a deal... however when you couple that with all of the other problems it becomes a huge ordeal to overcome. Why is soloing a problem? You may ask... well, the only thing that keeps my accounts with EverQuest open currently (all 3 of them) is that I still have friends that play. Friends that I made over the 5 years that I've played the game, some of which I've had since I started playing. We HAD to group because it was the only way to survive. Grouping forced interaction, which forced real ties to people and in turn keeps my accounts active. The lack of grouping in this game makes it VERY easy to put aside.
Another problem is the lack of end-game. There isn't any. It's something that I've posted about many times, but never gets addressed by the "Developers" and probably never will as it's not seen as a priority. What is the end-game? What can a complete newbie do that someone who's been playing for 6 months to 8 years can't do? What about vice-versa? Nothing. Nothing differentiates people from each other except playing time. There's a few people on Kauri that are well known and respected, but honestly... their equipment at "MASTER" anything isn't that far off from mine.
"What about Jedi?" will come the call as the answer to the end-game, my reply is simple. Take them out. So far it's caused nothing but animosity, and while people gasp on in awe... the concept is completely ludicrous. Name me ONE other game where the concept is to spend HOURS upon DAYS upon WEEKS upon MONTHS of time developing, forming and obtaining the best template that they can... only to have to give it up when they open their "Force Sensitive Slot". It's a big pile of crap. What the hell is the point? Why not either make Jedi a possible character type from the onset, or do away with the Profession completely.
All of the above things are coupled with the way that SOE handles their clients. With reputed repetition, they strive to make your job harder. They seem to be realizing that there are several HUGE flaws with the game and going about fixing it in a very uncreative, counterproductive way. The fact that things like "triple nerfs" exist is fundamentally stupid on every level. There are things that exist that "nerf" what was making something workable... for instance, the newest "nerf" to the Creature Handler Profession. Not being able to call pets outside a city (the way it was supposed to be in the first place... but read on...). While this change went into effect, NOTHING was done about the way that your creatures follow you. How often have you been just about to start a mission's destruction, send in your pet to attack, and realize that they're no where NEAR your vicinity? The easiest way around it? Store your pet after a mission, and call it when you're about to begin the next. Completely overlooked, and instead of fixing it and doing something positive (like fixing the way that pets track you), it was nerfed so that they couldn't be called outside of your residence or a city. I applaud your gall SOE.
Empty promises of the "Space Expansion" being the revolutionary change that everybody has been waiting for is seemingly nothing but a lame pipe-dream. I mean, considering ALL of the bugs and problems that currently exist in the game, that continue to exist when new content is added, and with NEW bugs and problems popping up whenever new content is added... do you really think that this is going to be a positive change immediately? You're fooling yourselves. SOE is about 1 thing... money. They don't care about you or me, just our cash. If you'll spend $50 on the Space Expansion and it's a completely broken game (*cough* Luclin Expansion for EQ *cough*) that you need to spend hours downloading other things in order for it to work, or that doesn't come with the newest installation of DirectX... they'll be happy because you've already spent your 50 bucks.
In terms of other problems, I really don't even know where to start. Mounts were supposed to be a revolutionary enhancement to the game. Sorry, but I've owned 3 different ones, and have sold them or given them all away. Why? Well, I run only a little bit slower than they do... but more importantly, I cannot call my other pet out when riding one. Fundamental flaw in the concept of mounts is that you need to be a novice scout too... Why? Because you have to make camps constantly in order to call other creatures. Things that irk me as well are little ones, like "jump" being completely useless. It's an animation that does nothing. You cannot jump over things, if you can't go through them... you HAVE to go around. Things like the Bounty Hunter line of Investigation STILL being riddled with bugs and problems. Missing marks, invisible marks, marks that spawn inside buildings, marks that are "white" and unkillable... etc etc etc. Having been a Master Bounty Hunter (THE HARD WAY before the "fixes") for a while, I still hold that profession dear to me... but nothing has changed. It's still the same bugs that have plagued the class since inception.
In a game where I'm supposed to wander the wilds (aka. Dathomir) and get completely destroyed by some red "con", highly aggro mob within 2 seconds of it spawning on my head (having not shown up on my radar), how the hell am I supposed to enjoy my time? In every battle that I've faught so far in this game it's either been me completely and utterly mutilating my opponent, or the other way around. There's no challenge. As an added couplink to that, when you form a group... the missions should get considerably more difficult. Getting krayt missions should be possible with a group of 10 or so. Instead? You get the same missions as if you'd grouped with your 3AT-STs and Graul Maulers. It's pathetic how little is thought of as the players progress.
In the end? This game could've been better than anything out there. It could've strived to go WAY beyond any boundries that we know in the MMORPG world. But it's done nothing but fail in just about every aspect. People are fleeing from the game and going back to classics like TFC (like I've done)... not because it's necessarily more fun, but because there's zero bugs, there's less chance of being screwed over by some world-wide change to classes, and (for me personally) it's not SOE.
For those that continue to play, I sure hope that some drastic change comes about you deserve it, but I seriously doubt it will come. For you developers that read this... well, who am I kidding... you won't, you'll probably edit it, and then ban me from the boards for speaking out against the Government of SOE... but I hope you do get something out of this post anyway. As for me, I think it's time to toss in the towel on this game. I just simply cannot stand it any longer, I can't believe that anything good will ever come. I am... completely, utterly and unbelievably disappointed with this game. It's too bad that it turned out this way.
Signing off,
One Disapointed SWG Player
SWG is like smoking... every patch gets you that much closer to quitting.OK you dont like the game....I am getting tired of it too.
But dont make soloing the problem! I hate being in groups and dont like being constantly messaged when i am playing. This game should not be for groups only! If it is then I quit, cause I get more XP and have more fun when I am alone! Forcing other people who pay to be in a group when they dont want to be is wrong and SOE knows this. The majority of the players in this game are loners like me and dont like the hassel and problems that arise while in a group.
If you want to quit, let it be because of the serious lack of content, the lame payoffs and loot, the serious lack of thought and decisions making before they hit the nerf launch button with EVERY SINGLE DAM PATCH. Let it be because we are paying for a Beta version of a game that never should have gone live...there are thousands of reasons out there...but not soloing alone!
Soloing isn't a bad thing in-and-of itself....there does need to be a *ton* of content that absolutely can't be solo'd under any circumstances though. Giving the people the 'option' to solo for decent rewards is great....but they need to have a lot of encounters that require from small to raid sized groups to take out. That portion of the game is extremely important as well....and things of that natureare what tend to strengthen the 'community' aspect more then anything else.
Right now, everything in the game can by taken out solo by somebody (though not everybody naturally). They aren't going to get any longevity whatsoever if that trend continues. Hopefully with the (eventual) space expansionsome (though not all) of theadded planets will be so brutal that you'll be scared to leave the starport without a bunch of friends with you. Whether the majority voted that they want to solo, you've got plenty of people who would love to have many morearea's that cater specifically toward grouping....and I'd be amazed if a ton of the people who voted for 'soloing' wouldn't like to have some things to do group-wise during part of their time.
You don't like this game. Thats fine. Personally, I don't know how anyone who likes EQ would like this game. As far as I'm concerned, they are very different things. I can't stand EQ. I played about 6 months. You like the levels, which help identify an advanced character from a newb. I see levels as an artificial hinderance and a dangling carrot always out of reach. I hate, hate, hate levels. I prefer more variety to building my character. Uo had it. AC had it. And SWG sort of has it. Classless systems are my prefered design.
You like forced grouping. I remember playing EQ where, if you weren't a certain class, you were not welcome in groups. I also remember having to shout over and over, trying to find a group. No, I'd rather not have to do that again. Although I don't mind if there are a couple large, difficult mobs that require a group to kill. As long as the rewards for it are not superior to any other items someone else could get. Meaning, I don't want to be forced into killing it because I need an uber blaster just to compete.
I don't agree that forced grouping makes for a stronger community. UO is much like SWG in many ways. Maybe its because Holocron also developed UO. Anyway, they both provide tools for players to make their niche within the world. They don't have a linear path or 'end game', per se. Every person's end game is their own. Whether its to master every skill, run a city, be a jedi. Becoming level 60 is not the forced end game. Both have strong player communities. Uo has been going strong for several years, where nearly every mob(used to be) soloable and the world was much smaller than any gamesince.
That is why I enjoy this game and you do not, I think. You prefer a clearer, straighterpath. I prefer a wider path with lots of intersections. Personal choice I guess. I played UO for about 3 years and I see myself playing SWG for multipe years as well. I've tried all the MMOGs in between but none have ever sustained me like UO did. This might do it. Bugs and all
Well, I'm done myself. Been waiting for the "Scythe" for months. As a swordman, our weapons are terrible and without imagination. I've emailed SOE about the Scythe, they just tell me to "Email Support"
Bye SOE. You ruined a good concept
Why did you post this on the swordsman board?
space exapnsion = cheap flight sim i've played in many other star wars games. it has nothign to do with a role playing system
jedi = lame beyond lame - sabers that fall apart in a week, constant griefing. you have to craft to become a master. pvp is out because you can't even heal yourself. sure being a jedi should be hard, but right now it's just pointless
I too am tired of the bugs in the system. A few of my biggest grips are, SOE wants us to PVP and declare our faction, but when we do, if you die you now have your armor and other items decay. When you are overt and travel anywhere you wake up in the clone center because a overt imp/rebel blast you while your loading. Pets don't follow and disappear. Mobs warp on top of you while your sitting still. SOE seems to ignore these problems and instead tell us about mounts/player cities/vehicles/space expansion intstead of fixing bugs and content for the game. Now they are telling us they are reworking the entire combat system /sigh.
Bugs... hmm...Wasn't there at the beginning of EQ but I'm sure there was a lot of bugs theretoo.
Anyway, wasn't the point of my post. I was just trying to figure out why we needed another post of this type... And on the swordman forum...
Please don't tell me it's because you feel the need to let out your frustration. Been there already. If everyone was to use the boards for this I guess they'd better just bring it down.
Some players actually seems to enjoy the game the way it is (otherwise we wouldn't be talking here...) and we know that bugs will get fix. We know things we'll get better. But as a programmer myself may I tell you that nothing's gonna be fix by tomorrow.
By the way, I'm not commenting on your leaving. Your choice, your money. I'm only replying to someone that obviously asked some help to take a deep breath.
Feel better? 
Sepulturicus: Good post my friend. Its too bad your leaving, but I dont blame you. See for me, I get more and more upset by the game every day... But the real reason I am sticking with it is cuz of my intrest in the movies and the friends i have made ingame. If a new MMORPG comes out with a real kick-ass combat system, I will be all over it asap, but until then, I will stay a SWG man...or 17 year-old...whatever. Heh
-sorde